Future Stars, Sparta advance to quarterfinals

As was expected, all the big names are through to the quarterfinal stage of the Georgetown leg of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” football tournament following the round of 16 which was contested on the parking lot of the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday night.
Pre-tournament favourites, Future Stars and defending champions Sparta Boss had contrasting victories while Gold is Money also looked dangerous in advancing to the business end of the tournament.
The Future Stars who played a high pressing and energetic game dominated Kingston throughout their game, netting five goals without a response from their outmatched opponents. Usual suspect, Jamal Cozier netted a brace while Kevin Griffith had a “Guinness Goal” as well and Kingston’s own goal added to their drubbing. Cozier’s strikes came in the sixth and 21st minutes while Griffith netted in the 27th minute with the own goal coming in the 26th minute.
Defending champions, Sparta Boss were made to labour for their 2-0 victory as they needed a late double strike from veteran baller Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson to bail them out against newcomers Norton Street. Richardson’s goals came with a minute of each other in the 24th and 25th minutes respectively.
Meanwhile, Gold is Money were rampant in their 5-0 drubbing of GTI Ballers, Deon Alfred’s brace along with a Jamal Pedro strike and a Michael Pedro Guinness Goal got them into the quarter-finals. Alfred scored in the fourth ad 20th minute while Jamal’s goal came in the seventh minute. Michael Pedro sealed the deal with a sharp strike in the 25th minute.
In other games Queen Street Tiger Bay needed penalties to get past Upsetters after the scores were locked 0-0 at the end of regulation time. Jamal Williams ensured that his needle got Rising Stars past North Ruimveldt; his goal came late in the game with the clock at 22 minutes.
Also needling their opponents were California Square and Leopold Street. First Meshach Barrat got California Square past Trap Squad with his goal in the 20th minute and Okanie Fraser’s goal also in the 20th minute was good enough to see Leopold Street win against Ol Skool Ballers.
Bent Street needed a single goal from Travis Lyken in the dying moments of their game against North East La Penitence to book a quarter-final spot.
The quarter-finals will be played on Friday (December 8) at the same venue from 19:00h with a number of exciting clashes promised.
The losers of the round of 16 will have a chance to win $50,000 in the plate section; that segment of the tournament will also begin on Friday. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
Fixtures are as follows:
Gold is Money vs Rising Stars-21:00h
Leopold Street vs California Square-21:30h
Sparta Boss vs Queen Street Tigerbay 22:00h
Future Stars vs Bent Street-22:30h

Plate Section
Trap Squad vs GTI Ballers-19:00h
North East La Penitence vs Norton Street-19:30h
Ol Skool Ballers vs Kingston-20:00h
North Ruimveldt vs Upsetters-20:30h